Even in the last two seconds (speaking figuratively) of his term, Biñan City Vice Mayor Gel Alonte continues to earn the recognition of his peers for his dedicated public service.
Recently, the League of the Vice Mayors of the Philippines gave a seal of approval for his three terms as Vice Mayor of Biñan City, with the Excellence in Public Service Award for 3rd Termers that was given to him last February.
With the official campaign season less than a week away, Biñanenses are sure to wonder: what can Alonte, who is now running to succeed incumbent Mayor Arman Dimaguila, can offer to them that will ensure Biñan City’s continued “winning streak” of major projects and programs?
Collective leadership
First off, what leadership style can the public expect of Gel Alonte should he become mayor?
In an interview with OpinYon Laguna, Alonte expressed his desire for a “collective” leadership – that is, giving each and every Biñanense the opportunity to speak up and be part of the city-building process.
This, he added, was the rationale behind the launch of the "Tatak GEL Hotline" on November 2024 – an outlet not only for Alonte to render further assistance to his constituents but, as he explained, an outlet for his constituents to express their views on how the local government can improve its programs.
“Lahat po ng mga Biñanense ay inaanyayahan ko po na ipahayag ang kanilang mga saloobin, mga suhestiyon. Gusto kong i-adopt, gusto kong i-collate ang kanilang mga suhestiyon,” he said.
“Hindi ko po gusto yung desisyon ko lang, gusto ko na sama-sama po tayong magdedesisyon para sa kung ano ang makabubuti para sa ating lungsod, at higit sa lahat, gusto ko pong transparent po tayo sa publiko sa bawat desisyon na gagawin natin, gaya ng naging pagiging transparent nina Mayor Arman at Representative Len Alonte sa kanilang panunungkulan.”
Most of Alonte’s answers, in fact, came from a simple question his social media team raised to Biñanense netizens: "Ang gusto kong Biñan sa mga susunod na taon ay _____ at _____."
What’s his focus?
While emphasizing the importance of every sector, every program, and every project, Alonte stressed what he believes is the need for strengthened social and health services that will benefit all Biñanenses, particularly the indigent sectors.
“Ang masasabi ko po ay ‘biased’ lang po ako ng kaunti sa ating social services at health services dito sa ating lungsod, dahil naniniwala po ako na iyan po ang mas nangangailangan na tutukan ng pansin ng ating pamahalaang lungsod,” he said.
Among the various programs Alonte is keen on implementing includes more employment and livelihood opportunities for single mothers, as well as better facilities and community-based rehabilitation for children with special needs.
Another dream project Alonte bared is the creation of more open spaces where Biñanense children can play safely, as well as for its people to relax and unwind.
Buoyed by the success of the Plaza Rizal renovation and the Biñan City Esplanade project, Alonte said he plans to institute open spaces in at least every barangay and school campus in Biñan City.
“In fact po, yung ginawa natin sa Biñan City Esplanade, yun po yung pinakalamaking pwede nating i-improve at i-implement pa sa iba pang mga lugar dito sa ating lungsod. Pwede po tayong maglagay pa diyan ng recreational facilities, sports arena, isang magandang park para sa lahat,” he enthused.
“Siyempre pa po, hindi lamang ito para sa kapakanan ng ating mga taga-lungsod, kundi para na rin po yumabong pa ang sektor ng turismo sa ating lungsod at makahikayat pa tayo ng mga investor,” Alonte added.
Infra projects
Given that the Dimaguila administration has finished (and kickstarted) a long list of major infrastructure projects that were showcased this year at the Araw ng Biñan festivities, residents are sure to ask: What major infrastructure projects has Gel Alonte have on his pipeline, should he be elected mayor?
“Gaya ng nasabi ko noon pa, ang talagang magiging focus pa natin ay ang pagtatayo pa ng mas maraming mga school facilities, lalo na’t may mga nagsasabi sa atin na mas damihan pa ang mga school buildings para matugunan talaga ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he replied.
“Another thing that I see I can implement, base na rin po sa mga suhestiyon ng ating mga kababayan, ay ang pagdaragdag pa ng parking facilities sa ating downtown area, particularly sa ating public market, at siyempre pa po ang pagtatayo pa po ng mas maayos na pedestrian walkway at mga footbridge upang maging ligtas po ang ating mga kababayan lalo na’t nagiging problema na rin po ang trapiko dito sa ating lungsod,” Alonte added.
‘Ako na ang main character’
In his interview with OpinYon Laguna, Alonte admitted that he still feels somewhat unsettled – not just with the expected hardships of the campaign period but also because of the enormous responsibility that he is sure to face.
“Medyo nakakapanibago po, kasi ngayon, supporting actor lang ako, tapos ngayon, ikaw na ang magiging main character, lalo na kung palarin po akong manalo at maging susunod na ‘Ama ng Biñan,’” was how he candidly put it.
“Pero the bottom line po is nais ko pong ipagpatuloy yung malasakit na naibigay ko na sa mga Biñanense, but on a higher level. Alam ko po na maganda na po ang lagay ng ating lungsod under Mayor Arman and Cong. Len, pero nais ko pa pong matiyak na mas mapaganda pa ang ating lungsod, para po sa lahat ng Biñanense.”
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